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Pregnancy after 35: Healthy moms, healthy babies

Are you considering pregnancy after 35? Understand the issues for older mothers — and know what it takes to have a healthy pregnancy.

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you're older than 35 and hoping to get pregnant, you're in good company. Many women are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond — and delivering healthy babies. Taking special care can help give your baby the best start.

Understand the risks

The biological clock is a fact of life, but there's nothing magical about age 35. It's simply an age at which various risks become discussion worthy. For example:

  • It may take longer to get pregnant. You're born with a limited number of eggs. As you reach your early 30s, your eggs may decline in quality — and you may ovulate less frequently, even if you're still having regular periods. An older woman's eggs also aren't fertilized as easily as a younger woman's eggs. Does this mean you can't get pregnant? Of course not. It may simply take longer. If you're older than 35 and haven't been able to conceive for six months, consider asking your health care provider for advice.
  • You're more likely to have a multiple pregnancy. The chance of having twins increases with age. The use of assisted reproductive technologies — such as in vitro fertilization — also may play a role. Since these procedures typically enhance ovulation, they're more likely to result in twins or other multiples.
  • You're more likely to develop gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs only during pregnancy, and it's more common as women get older. Tight control of blood sugar through diet, exercise and other lifestyle measures is essential. Sometimes, medication is needed as well. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause a baby to grow too large — which increases the risk of injuries during delivery.
  • You may need a C-section. Older mothers have a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that may lead to a C-section delivery, such as placenta previa — a condition in which the placenta blocks the cervix. Labor problems tend to be more common in first-time mothers older than age 35.
  • The risk of chromosome abnormalities is higher. Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosome problems, such as Down syndrome.
  • The risk of miscarriage is higher. The risk of miscarriage also increases as you get older, perhaps due to the higher likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities.

The age of your baby's biological father also can pose risks. Some research suggests that children born to men age 40 and older have a higher risk of autism than do children of men younger than age 30. Men older than age 50 are more likely to have babies with certain birth defects, such as the bone growth disorder achondroplasia, due to mutations in their genes. The risk of cognitive impairment also may be higher for children of older fathers. In a 2009 study, children born to older men scored slightly lower on tests measuring concentration, memory, reading and reasoning skills through age 7.

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References
  1. Pregnancy after 35. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1155.asp. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  2. Smoking during pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1171.asp. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  3. Cleary-Goldman J, et al. Impact of maternal age on obstetric outcome. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2005;105:983.
  4. Later childbearing. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp060.cfm. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  5. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy. March of Dimes. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  6. Weight control: Eating right and keeping fit. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp064.cfm. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  7. Fitness for two. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/681_1150.asp?printable=true. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  8. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Folate. National Institutes of Health. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp#h3. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  9. Nutrition during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp001.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  10. Exercise during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp119.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  11. Diabetes and pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp051.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  12. What am I doing that can cause infertility? The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. http://www.protectyourfertility.org/femalerisks.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
  13. Reichenberg A, et al. Advancing paternal age and autism. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2006;63:1026.
  14. Saha S, et al. Advanced paternal age is associated with impaired neurocognitive outcomes during infancy and childhood. PLoS Medicine. 2009;6:1.
  15. Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 15, 2009.
  16. Achondroplasia. March of Dimes. http://search.marchofdimes.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=6&page_id=655872&query=achondroplasia&hiword=achondroplasia+. Accessed April 21, 2009.

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July 24, 2009

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